In the current summer transfer window, Al-Nassr, a Saudi Pro League club, has shown a keen interest in signing Alisson Becker, the goalkeeper from Liverpool FC.
After joining Liverpool from Serie A’s Roma in 2018 for a whopping £70m, the now 30-year-old Alisson has become one of Jurgen Klopp’s most vital players at Anfield.
During his five-year tenure at the club, Alisson has participated in 232 matches, contributing to their triumphs in the Premier League and the Champions League.
In the previous season, the Brazilian international missed just one league game, as Liverpool recovered from a slow start and secured a fifth-place finish, earning them a spot in the 2023-24 Europa League.
According to a report from The Mirror, Al-Nassr aims to tempt Alisson away from Liverpool and European football in their pursuit of securing the top spot in their domestic league this season.
Over the past year, the Saudi Pro League club has successfully recruited several high-profile players, including Cristiano Ronaldo after his departure from Manchester United and former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane.
It is believed that Al-Nassr is confident they can present both Liverpool and Alisson with a financial package that would be hard to turn down.
However, the report suggests that Klopp’s Reds have no intention of selling their first-choice goalkeeper during this transfer window. Liverpool is seeking defensive stability following the departure of several key midfielders.
Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have moved on to Al Ettifaq and Al Ittihad, respectively, leaving Liverpool with limited options in the defensive midfield position.
In their Pro League opener, Ettifaq recorded a 2-1 victory over Al Nassr, with former Liverpool captain Henderson making his debut for Steven Gerrard’s team. Robin Quaison and Moussa Dembele found the net for Ettifaq.
The report also states that Alisson has not expressed any desire to leave Liverpool for the lucrative offers from the Middle East. Nevertheless, there remains optimism among Luis Castro’s squad that a deal could still be reached before the transfer window closes.
Currently, Al-Nassr’s first-choice goalkeeper is Saudi Arabia international Nawaf Al-Aqidi. However, the 23-year-old made a crucial mistake in their recent defeat, casting some doubt on his starting position.
In Liverpool’s Premier League opener against Chelsea, Alisson was unable to keep a clean sheet as Axel Disasi, the Chelsea center-back, scored. The match ended in a draw at Stamford Bridge.
Alisson is expected to retain his place in goal when Liverpool hosts Bournemouth at Anfield this Saturday afternoon. Notably, in the previous season, Liverpool defeated Bournemouth 8-0 in the same fixture.